From his bullish opening statement, he was self-confident, eloquent and often humorous. At one stage, Jeremy Hunt accused him of “peddling optimism” but that was precisely why Boris won the encounter. Throughout his career, his greatest political gift has been his ability to cheer up people. He certainly did so last night, winning far more applause.

It was not a truly commanding performance by him.

He waffled badly about President Trump and his plans for the HS2 rail link, while his response on his proposal for tax cuts was unconvincing.

But he was in far better form than when he appeared in the BBC debate last month.

Then he looked hesitant and defensive, partly because his team’s media strategy was to hide him away from the cameras.

As a result, he was badly out of practice.

But over recent weeks he has been campaigning hard and it showed in his self-assurance.

Indeed, at times he was like a prizefighter, moving easily between the hammer blows he landed on his opponent.

Early on, he said that the country must “get back our mojo”.

Boris has certainly recovered his.

For a figure with a reputation for dullness, Hunt was unexpectedly combative and managed a few punches, though they had little impact.

At times he was awkward, as when he started talking about his birthday.

Even more maladroit was his forlorn attempt to force Johnson into promising to resign if the Brexit deadline of October 31 was not met.

He also had the occasional stumble, as when he claimed that “I would win over more non-Conservative voters than either of us”.

But by far his biggest problem is that, despite all unaccustomed feistiness, he remained in Johnson’s shadow.

The difference between them was most stark in their exchanges over Brexit.

Hunt came across as the dutiful establishment figure, keen on negotiations with the EU and full of bureaucratic strategies.

In contrast, Johnson radiated a magnetic belief in Britain’s ability to grasp independence from the EU.

Rejecting the “total defeatism” of the establishment, he was adamant the hostility of Brussels and Parliament could be overcome.

It has to be admitted, however, that some of his ebullience smacked of wishful thinking, particularly over the Irish border and the imposition of tariffs in the event of no-deal.

With the capable host Julie Etchingham at the helm, ITV handled the debate much more successfully than the BBC.

But the biggest winner of the evening was undoubtedly Boris.

Fittingly, he had the last laugh when asked the quality he most admired in his opponent.

“His ability to change his mind and campaign for Brexit,” said Boris, who will triumph because the Tory Party – and the public –wants a real believer in British freedom.

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